Arroz a la Cubana (Cuban Rice) is the easiest dish to make in the World. Ok, maybe bread and butter, or scrambled eggs are easier, but this is much more than just a snack, and it can be done in a few minutes with the cheapest ingredients at hand. Got some leftover rice? Check. Got eggs in the fridge? Check. Have a ripe plantain hanging around in the kitchen? (You may have to go out of your way for this one, but not if you’re Latino/a). Peruvians love to have platanos de la isla (de la isla bananas) or bizcochito bananas, extra sweet and great for frying.

All you have to do is heat the rice, fry the eggs, slice the plantains, and fry them in the same pan where you fried the eggs. Y listo! Lunch is ready. This is the go-to dish for moms on a budget, or busy people on a time-budget. Arroz a la Cubana is so easy to make, yet so delicious, that it is no surprise that there are several versions for this entree, including the “arroz cubano” in Spain. Is it really Cuban? I don’t know, but what I know is that it is a tasty and fun way to have a fuss-free meal every once in a while. And when I enjoy it I like to set the mood with this famous song called “Baila como Juana la Cubana” (dance like Juana, the Cuban girl).

I can confirm this was Mami’s “go-to” dish. If we showed up with extra people, the dishes went back to the kitchen, freíba unos huevos, repartía un poco y poof! Había comida para todos porque donde comen 4 comen 5!